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SUSHOVAN HUSSAINS REPLY IN SUPPORT OF
MOTION TO INTERVENE TO CHALLENGE SETTLEMENT
Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
854590
KEKER & VAN NEST LLP
JOHN W. KEKER - # 49092
jkeker@kvn.com
JAN NIELSEN LITTLE - # 100029
jlittle@kvn.com
BROOK DOOLEY - # 230423
bdooley@kvn.com
NICHOLAS D. MARAIS - # 277846
nmarais@kvn.com
633 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111-1809
Telephone: 415 391 5400
Facsimile: 415 397 7188
Attorneys for Proposed Intervenor
SUSHOVAN HUSSAIN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

IN RE HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
SHAREHOLDER DERIVATIVE
LITIGATION.
Master File No. C-12-6003-CRB

SUSHOVAN HUSSAINS REPLY IN
SUPPORT OF MOTION TO INTERVENE
TO CHALLENGE SETTLEMENT
Date: August 25, 2014
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Dept.: Courtroom 6, 17th Floor
Judge: Hon. Charles R. Breyer
THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO:
ALL ACTIONS


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SUSHOVAN HUSSAINS REPLY IN SUPPORT OF
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Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1
II. THIS COLLUSIVE SETTLEMENT CONCEALS THE TRUTH: THAT HPS
BUNGLED INTEGRATION DIMINISHED AUTONOMYS VALUE, YET HP
INSTEAD BLAMES OTHERS, BY TURNING ACCOUNTING DISPUTES
INTO ALLEGED FRAUD. .................................................................................................3
III. THIS SETTLEMENT IS PART OF A PATTERN OF HPS CONTINUOUS
(AND THUS FAR SUCCESSFUL) EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN ANY
DISCOVERY OR INQUIRY INTO ITS OWN MISMANAGEMENT OF THE
AUTONOMY ACQUISITION AND INTEGRATION. .....................................................6
A. 20122014: In re HP Shareholder Derivative Litigation (the Ricciardi
case): HP avoids any discovery, then shuts down this case. ....................................6
B. 2013: Cook v. HP stockholder access case in Delaware: HP successfully
resists disclosure of most documents. ......................................................................6
C. 20132014: Cook v. Whitman case in Delaware: HP tries to terminate the
case over Cooks objection due to the California settlement. ..................................7
D. 2014: Steinberg v. Apotheker: HP automatically sweeps it into this case. .........8
E. 20112014: Copeland cases: HP refuses shareholder demand,
successfully opposes amendment. ...........................................................................9
F. 2014 and beyond: HPs efforts to limit potential future discovery. ........................9
IV. HPS PROFFERED CURE TO THE BAR ORDER DOES NOT DEPRIVE
HUSSAIN OF STANDING OR OF HIS NEED TO INTERVENE. ................................10
V. DISCOVERY IS APPROPRIATE ....................................................................................12
VI. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................14




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SUSHOVAN HUSSAINS REPLY IN SUPPORT OF
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Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
854590
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Federal Cases
Eubank v. Pella Corp.
753 F.3d 718 (7th Cir. 2014) ................................................................................................... 13
Franklin v. Kaypro Corp.
884 F.2d 1222 (9th Cir. 1989) ................................................................................................. 11
In re HealthSouth Corp. Sec. Litig.
572 F.3d 854 (11th Cir. 2009) ................................................................................................. 11
In re HP Inkjet Printer Litigation
Civ. No. 05-cv-3580-JF ............................................................................................................. 2
Steinberg v. Apotheker, et al.
Civ. No. 14-cv-2287-CRB ................................................................................................. 3, 8, 9
State Cases
Cook v. Hewlett-Packard
C.A. No. 8667-VCG (Del. Ch.) ................................................................................................. 6
Cook v. Hewlett-Packard
No. 8667-VCG, 2014 WL 311111 (Del. Ch. Jan. 30, 2014) ............................................... 7, 14
Cook v. Whitman, et al.
Del. Ch. C.A. No. 9458-VGC ............................................................................................ 2, 7, 9
State Statutes
8 Delaware Code Section 220 .......................................................................................................... 6
Other Authorities
Ferrara, Shareholder Derivative Litigation: Besieging the Board ................................................. 13

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SUSHOVAN HUSSAINS REPLY IN SUPPORT OF
MOTION TO INTERVENE TO CHALLENGE SETTLEMENT
Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
854590
I. INTRODUCTION
HP mismanaged the Autonomy merger, then shifted blame for the resulting write-down by
characterizing accounting disputes as fraud. This corrupt settlement is part of a larger effort by
HP to cover up both its mismanagement of the Autonomy integration and its ploy to falsely
accuse others. By his motion, Mr. Hussain seeks to shine a light on what HP wants to keep in the
dark.
HPs Opposition swells with bile, but its sound and fury signify nothing. Without any
support at all, HP calls Mr. Hussain a fraudster, which he is not.
1
Meanwhile, HP utterly fails
to address any of the questions raised by Mr. Hussains motion to intervene, including:
Why did respected Plaintiffs counsel, who in their complaint detailed 445
paragraphs of serious allegations against HPs board and management, suddenly
abandon their claims in return for a promise of $18$48 million?
2

On what basis (other than receiving exoneration and a bar from any future claims)
did HPs Board conclude that there is no merit to the claims against HP insiders?
Why did Plaintiffs counsel, who previously contested the ability of HPs board to
objectively evaluate these claims, and challenged the independence of the Demand
Review Committee, suddenly decide to trust the Boards self-serving conclusion
that there is no merit to the claims?
On what basis (other than a $25,000 payment to plaintiff Stanley Morrical) do the
shareholder plaintiffs who originally sued HPs directors and officers now agree
that HPs Board and officers are blameless?
Was a motivation for this settlement the desire of HP insiders to avoid explaining
statements they had made that they knew were untrue?

1
HP cant even get Mr. Hussains employment title right. In the first sentence of its Opposition
HP says Mr. Hussain was Autonomys CFO from 2001 until May 2012. In fact, he was
Autonomys CFO only until October 2011, when the amount of Autonomy shares committed
reached the threshold necessary to render HP in control, and therefore the owner, of Autonomy.
After that Mr. Hussain became President of Autonomy (an HP company), with only sales teams
reporting to him. He held this position from October 2011 until his resignation in May 2012.
Like HPs name calling, HPs error here demonstrates how it misapprehends relevant facts.
Significantly, after the merger, it was HPs Finance Department, not Mr. Hussain, that controlled
Autonomys finances. And HPs Finance Department reviewed, approved, and continued many
of the Autonomy financial transactions and practices of which HP now complains.
2
HP says the fee promised to the plaintiffs attorneys is largely on a contingent basis. Dkt. 165
(HP Opp.), 3:1112. True enough, after the first guaranteed $18 million is paid, regardless of
whether any further case is brought or is successful.
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Notably, HPs Opposition is completely silent on the key question raised by
Mr. Hussains motion: whether the challenged settlement was collusive. In their separately filed
Opposition, Plaintiffs counsel does address the question of collusion, concluding, without
elaboration, that the Settlement is neither collusive nor unfair. Dkt. 169
3
(Pl. Opp.), 1:23. As
if perhaps that might not be convincing enough, Plaintiff further states that Hussain offers no
support for his accusation other than the fact that, after filing an action, Plaintiff and HP
decided to join forces. Pl. Opp., 1:2325. Plaintiff fails to explain how this mysterious decision
to join forces is distinguishable from the legal dictionary definition of collusion: a secret
arrangement between two or more persons, whose interests are apparently conflicting, to make
use of the forms and proceedings of law in order to obtain that which justice would not give
them, by deceiving a court or its officers.
4

Both HP and Plaintiff argue that Mr. Hussain is trying to protect his own interests, rather
than the interests of HP and its shareholders. See HP Opp., 1:22; Pl. Opp., 1:13. We admit that
Mr. Hussain has filed this motion in service of his own interests, as litigants usually do. And we
submit that HPs board members, too, are trying to protect interests other than those of HP
shareholders, by paying handsomely for an investigation to exonerate its directors and officers,
and by paying handsomely the lawyers who had previously accused them, to make them go away.

3
Unless otherwise noted, all docket references are to In re Hewlett-Packard Company
Shareholder Derivative Litigation, master file number 12-6003-CRB.
4
Blacks Online Legal Dictionary (2d ed.) (available at http://thelawdictionary.org/collusion/).
Others have recently accused these lawyers and HP of collusion in a different case. In a Motion
for Decertification of Class/Disqualification of Counsel, filed August 1, 2014, the Center for
Class Action Fairness accuses lead counsel for the class in that case, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy
LLP, of actually colluding with HP to avoid a challenge to a $2.1 million fee award in that case,
while simultaneously negotiating a separate side agreement to represent HP in connection with
this case. See In re HP Inkjet Printer Litigation, 05-cv-3580-JF, Dkt. 338 (Aug. 1, 2014). This
motion is set to be heard by Judge Jeremy Fogel on September 5, 2014.
In addition, on August 7, 2014, counsel for the plaintiff in the Delaware Chancery Court action
Cook v. Whitman, et al., Del. Ch. C.A. No. 9458-VGC, informed this Court by letter of his intent
to file a motion to intervene in this action for purposes of seeking lead counsel status. Cooks
counsel suggests a conflict presented by Plaintiffs counsel serving in this case, purportedly on
behalf of HPs interests, while simultaneously serving as class counsel opposed to HP in In re HP
Inkjet Printer Litigation, a conflict exacerbated by Plaintiffs counsel also being formally engaged
by HP (and paid by HP) in connection with the settlement of this derivative action. See
Declaration of Nicholas D. Marais in Support of Sushovan Hussains Reply filed herewith
(Marais Decl.), Ex. A.
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SUSHOVAN HUSSAINS REPLY IN SUPPORT OF
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Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
854590
Indeed it could be said that Mr. Hussain, by virtue of being squarely in the companys
crosshairs, HP Opp., 6:1718, is if anything moreinterested in getting to the bottom of what
happened in connection with the Autonomy merger, and what it is that HPs management is
trying to hide by shutting down this and all other litigation that threatens discovery against it.
In response to Mr. Hussains motion HP has, ineffectively, revised the Bar Order in
response to legal infirmities revealed by Mr. Hussain. HP argues that this quick fix should satisfy
Mr. Hussain and deny him standing. Mr. Hussain, however, cannot be so easily swatted away.
For the reasons set forth in our Motion and in this Reply, Mr. Hussain seeks to intervene
in this action to challenge the settlement and to obtain the discovery necessary to properly do so.
II. THIS COLLUSIVE SETTLEMENT CONCEALS THE TRUTH: THAT HPS
BUNGLED INTEGRATION DIMINISHED AUTONOMYS VALUE, YET HP
INSTEAD BLAMES OTHERS, BY TURNING ACCOUNTING DISPUTES INTO
ALLEGED FRAUD.
When in 2011 HP bought Autonomy, it did so knowing it was paying a premium, and
knowing that its CFO objected that the price was too high.
5
HP also knew about accounting
issues raised for years by analysts,
6
and it knew that the integration of the companies would
present accounting challenges, including moving from European IFRS standards to GAAP.
7
HP
pursued due diligence, to the extent and degree it felt it needed.
8
And despite all the skepticism

5
HP has admitted that Lesjak objected to the proposed acquisition of Autonomy in a board
meeting on the grounds that it was too expensive and the timing was not right. See HPs
Amended Answer, filed June 5, 2014 (Dkt. 227) (HP Securities Answer) in In re HP Securities
Litigation, case no. 3:12-cv-05980-CRB, 32.
6
In another derivative action pending before this Court, it has been alleged that [a]t least as early
as 2009 questions existed about Autonomys financials in published documents. Corrected
Complaint, filed June 3, 2014 in Steinberg v. Apotheker, et al., 14-cv-2287-CRB, Dkt. 9, 38
(emphasis added). The Steinberg complaint goes on to cite numerous analyst reports expressing
concern in 2010 about Autonomys hardware sales, including pass-through sales, and the effect
of hardware sales on gross margins. Id. at 3942.
7
HP has admitted that, post-acquisition, KPMG (who assisted HP with due diligence) and E&Y
(HPs auditors), as well as HPs director of Revenue Recognition, Paul Curtis, reviewed certain
accounting issues associated with Autonomys transition to GAAP from IFRS. HP Securities
Answer, 75(2)(3).
8
HP has stated that KPMG opined that [t]he data and access provided to us [by Autonomy and
Deloitte] during due diligence was comparable with other acquisitions involving large U.K.
publicly traded companies. Dkt. 102 (HP Mot. to Stay), 11:45. HP has in other filings
admitted that in November 2011, HPs auditors at Ernst and Young reviewed certain of
Deloittes Autonomy work papers. HP Securities Answer, 75(1).
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Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
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and challenges, HP pursued and consummated this deal, because its leaders at the time, CEO Lo
Apotheker and Chief Strategy Officer Shane Robison, wanted to take HP in a completely new
direction. They never had the chance, because they were forced out between when the deal was
announced and when it closed. Lacking the enthusiasm or vision of those who initially sought the
deal, HPs integration of Autonomy failed miserably. Hoped-for synergies turned into conflicts
and redundancies. Sales incentives were mismatched and unproductive. Unhappy employees
fled. Apothekers vision for the acquisition went from dream to disaster. And meanwhile, for a
year, HPs Finance department reviewed Autonomys finances, continuing many of the practices
HP now criticizes,
9
and worked to reconcile and make adjustments for the transition from IFRS to
GAAP.
After mismanaging Autonomy and its integration for over a year, on November 20, 2012,
HP announced its $8.8 billion end-of-year write-down of Autonomy, $5 billion of which it
attributed to alleged accounting improprieties at Autonomy. Commentators at the time
questioned whether HPs claims of financial improprieties at Autonomy were an attempt to
divert attention from yet another bad acquisition,
10
this write-down being one of many recent
botched HP deals.
11
Referring to $200 million of Autonomy revenue that HP says was
improperly recorded, and which was cited as the basis for the write-down, the former Chief
Accountant of the SEC asked: How does that [$200 million adjustment] translate into a
$5 billion writeoff? The big issue isnt the fraud they are talking about. The big issue is that
HP has made acquisitions that have turned out to be a disaster.
12
Other commentators published
similar analyses at the time of HPs announcement:

9
For example, hardware sales continued. HP has since admitted in the press through a
spokesman that HP eventually learned that a portion of Autonomys revenues were related to
hardware sales. See Marais Decl., Ex. B (Thomas and Waters, HP/Autonomy Investigation:
Tangled Web of Hardware and Resellers, Financial Times (Feb. 17, 2014)).
10
Marais Decl., Ex. C (Drucker, HPs Accounting Claims Are Seen as Cover for Bad Deals,
Bloomberg (Nov. 21, 2012)).
11
Other recent write-downs included an $8 billion write-down of EDS announced in
August 2012; a $1.2 billion write-down of Compaq announced in May 2012; and a $1.67 billion
write-down announced in November 2011 in connection with the failed Palm acquisition and
related business closures.
12
Marais Decl., Ex. C at 1 (quoting Lynn E. Turner, former chief accountant of the SEC).
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The real story here is that HP grossly overpaidagainfor an acquisition. The
$11 billion purchase price was more than 11 times Autonomys $931 million of
revenue for the 12 months ended June 30, 2011. In other words: HP was the
sucker. Now its trying to shift the blame elsewhere, which shouldnt come as a
surprise.
13

This is the story that HP wants buried. This is the story that a collusive settlement shields
from light. This is the story that Plaintiffs counsel in this case initially trumpeted:
That HP botched the acquisition and integration: HP decided that it was more
eager to spend $11.7 billion on a high visibility acquisition than actually figuring out
what it was buying.
14

That HP is trying to cover up its mismanagement by shifting blame: In an effort
to conceal their own gross mismanagement, fraudulent conduct, and potential
exposure to securities claims, HPs officers and directors have blamed the vast
majority of the $8.8 billion write-down on accounting issues. HP sought to
maximize the amount of the write-down it could blame on fraud without
acknowledging the misconduct and mismanagement of HPs own officers and
directors. [I]t is evident that HP is using those accounting issues as an excuse to
write down the value of another bad investment HPs officers and directors
continue to blame HPs problems on third parties without holding themselves
accountable for their own misconduct.
15

That the results of the investigation were a foregone conclusion: Back on
November 20, 2012, when HP announced the disastrous $8.8 billion write-down
relating to Autonomy, it issued a press release and described its intense internal
investigation. That same day Director and CEO Meg Whitman told analysts that
HPs investigation determined that the board was not responsible and that it bears no
responsibility for the Autonomy deal. [T]his Court [lacks] the means to evaluate
the DRCs investigation, which the Court should conduct with heightened scrutiny in
light of the fact that HPs Board of Directors already has gone on recordback in
November 2012that it is not to blame.
16

And this is the story that Plaintiffs counsel has now abandoned, deciding instead to join forces
with HP.
What a difference $1848 million makes.
Intervention, and discovery directed to the process by which this story has been buried, is
appropriate.

13
Id. at Ex. D (Weil, HPs Explanation Still Makes No Sense, Bloomberg (Nov. 21, 2012)).
14
Dkt. 75-2 (Consolidated Am. Compl.), 6.
15
Id. at 18, 23, 27; see also id. at 300.
16
Dkt. 116 (Plaintiffs Aug. 13, 2013 Opposition to HPs Motion to Stay), vii:1425 and 6:58.
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Case No. C-12-6003-CRB
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III. THIS SETTLEMENT IS PART OF A PATTERN OF HPS CONTINUOUS (AND
THUS FAR SUCCESSFUL) EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN ANY DISCOVERY OR
INQUIRY INTO ITS OWN MISMANAGEMENT OF THE AUTONOMY
ACQUISITION AND INTEGRATION.
Since its November 2012 announcement of the $8.8 billion write-down, HP has engaged
in a vigorous game of Whack-A-Mole, batting at various investor lawsuits that pose the threat of
discovery and disclosure of HPs own mismanagement. HPs successes in squelching disclosure
at every turn present a textbook example of defensive stalling, redirection, avoidance, and
ultimate prevention of disclosure.
A. 20122014: I n re HP Shareholder Derivative Litigation (the Ricciardi case):
HP avoids any discovery, then shuts down this case.
On November 27, 2012, a week after HPs announcement of the $8.8 billion write-down,
derivative plaintiff Philip Ricciardi brought the action now before the court, one of several
derivative actions filed at the time. HP secured an extension of time to respond. Following
litigation concerning consolidation and appointment of lead counsel, a heavily redacted
consolidated amended complaint was filed on May 3, 2013. Dkt. 75-2. A week later HP moved
to stay the case, pending the boards investigation and review of potential claims. A series of six
stipulated stays spanning over thirteen months followed. See Dkts. 87, 123, 135, 137, 141, 146.
On June 30, 2014, with no litigation having taken place, the settlement between HP and
Plaintiffs counsel was announced, including its reference to secret governance changes, a bar
order to prevent further claims, and an $18$48 million feeone that has to rank among the
largest fees ever paid to settle a derivative case without any litigation.
B. 2013: Cook v. HP stockholder access case in Delaware: HP successfully
resists disclosure of most documents.
On July 2, 2013, Plaintiff Rodney Cook filed an action under 8 Delaware Code Section
220 for stockholder access to HPs books and records. Cook v. Hewlett-Packard, C.A. No. 8667-
VCG (Del. Ch.). HP produced just 200 documents comprising 2668 pages, and mightily resisted
any further disclosure, to the point of taking to trial the question whether further disclosures were
required. The Delaware Chancery Court ultimately declined to order further disclosure, including
the 750,000 additional pages of documents requested by Mr. Cook (which HP has disclosed to the
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Government).
17
See Marais Decl., Ex. E (Cook v. Hewlett-Packard Co., No. 8667-VCG, 2014
WL 311111 (Del. Ch. Jan. 30, 2014) (unpublished)), *5.
C. 20132014: Cook v. Whitman case in Delaware: HP tries to terminate the
case over Cooks objection due to the California settlement.
Even though HP was successful in limiting disclosure, the 200 documents it did disclose
gave Mr. Cook a basis to file a derivative action in Delaware Chancery Court, Cook v.Whitman,
Civ. Action No. 9458-VCG, alleging that HPs insiders and others breached their fiduciary duties
in connection with HPs acquisition of Autonomy. HP moved to stay this action due to the
pendency of the derivative action in California. Briefing followed. Then, on June 30, the
settlement of the California derivative action was announced.
HP immediately attempted to leverage the California settlement to shut down the
Delaware derivative action.
18
Plaintiffs counsel responded by noting the unfairness of HPs
using a settlement in Californiareached with no real litigation activityto bar Cooks
claims
19
(which claims are based on the same documents apparently also provided to the newly
enriched California plaintiffs counsel, but which they have chosen not to use).

17
Nor did HP disclose the tens of millions of documents it provided to the Demand Review
Committee. See Dkt. 149-1 (Declaration of Judge Vaughn R. Walker), 2:24.
18
As HPs attorney explained:
So, in this case, if the settlement [in California] receives preliminary approval
which is scheduled to be heard on August 21st, the Court will then issue an order
which will have an injunction, and the injunction will preclude stockholders in
other jurisdictions with proceeding to litigate the claims that are being settled in
California.
Marais Decl., Ex. F (transcript of July 17 Cook v. Whitman teleconference), 7:1016.
19
As explained by plaintiff Cooks counsel:
Mr. Cooks lawsuit is based on the materials that were produced in the 220
investigation. Conversely, in California, you have shareholders who now, in
essence, without firing a shot, because there was no real litigation activity that
went forth in California, they have entered into a settlement that would purport to
release Mr. Cooks distinct claims brought on behalf of the company. [I]f the
Court does not proceed any further in this case [before the California court grants
preliminary approval of the settlement], it may well be that this court has no
opportunity to consider the allegations and claims that have been uniquely raised
in this forum by a plaintiff who followed the preferred, strongly preferred,
Delaware procedure about how to go about best pleading derivative claims.
Marais Decl., Ex. F at 12:2113:2; 13:1522; 17:717.
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Cook asked the Delaware court for expedited consideration of HPs stay motion before the
California settlement terminated Cooks Delaware claims. HP resisted expedited consideration of
its motion. The Chancery Court sided with HP and stayed the Delaware proceedings pending the
resolution of the California motion to approve a settlement. Cooks counsel has now indicated a
plan to intervene in this action, to try to pursue the claims he asserted in Delaware (which this
California settlement would preclude).
20

D. 2014: Steinberg v. Apotheker: HP automatically sweeps it into this case.
On May 16, 2014, another derivative action was filed in the Northern District of
California, Steinberg, et al. v. Apotheker, et al., 14-cv-2287. The complaint in this action also
alleges failures in HPs due diligence in its acquisition of Autonomy, and challenges the good
faith or reasonable analysis performed by the Demand Review Committee. The Steinberg
plaintiffs also complain of HPs delaying and obfuscating by not responding to a shareholder
demand or document demands.
On June 6, 2014, the Steinberg case was automatically swept into the present derivative
action, by virtue of a February 21, 2013 stipulated order, which HP negotiated with other
derivative plaintiffs counsel, consolidating their cases and providing that any future filed
derivative actions would be automatically consolidated into the present action. See Dkt. 61 in
12-cv-06003; Dkt. 10 in 14-cv-2287.
21
The Steinberg plaintiffs have moved in this case for relief
from the automatic consolidation order, and to sever their demand refusal case from this
demand futility case. Dkt. 143. HPs opposition, filed on June 20, belittled the Steinberg case
as nothing more than a new label on what is admittedly the same old wine, Dkt. 147, 1:4, and

20
Indeed, HP invited Cooks counsel to intervene in this action, stating to the Delaware Chancery
Court:
If they think the settlement is not in the best interests of the company and the
stockholders, they certainly have the opportunity to go out there and file their
objections and litigate them there or try to intervene in the California action and
take over as the lead plaintiff.
Id. at 9:1924.
21
This stipulation is another example of an agreement that benefits both HP and plaintiffs
counsel: it both shields HP from additional derivative suits and protects plaintiffs counsel from
additional competing plaintiffs counsel.
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sought to wrap the Steinberg case into this action (which, we now know, was at that point days
away from settlement).
22
Steinbergs motion for relief from consolidation and to sever will be
heard on August 25, at the same time as Mr. Hussains motion to intervene.
E. 20112014: Copeland cases: HP refuses shareholder demand, successfully
opposes amendment.
The remaining derivative cases criticizing HPs handling of the Autonomy merger are the
Copeland cases. Plaintiff Copeland made a demand to the HP Board in 2011 alleging various
acts of mismanagement. HPs Board declined the demand, and Copeland sued. Copeland v.
Lane, et al., 11-cv-01058-EJD (Copeland I). In December 2012, Copeland sought to amend his
complaint to include allegations relating to the Autonomy merger and the 2012 write-down. On
May 6, 2013, Judge Davila denied leave to amend, and granted HPs motion to dismiss, deferring
to the business judgment of HPs Board in refusing Copelands demand. See id. at Dkt. 162.
Copelands appeal is pending before the Ninth Circuit. Copeland v. Lane, et al., 13-16251
(Copeland I Appeal). Meanwhile, Copeland filed an additional derivative action, Copeland v.
Apotheker,14-CV-00622-EJD (Copeland II), which, in a 98-page complaint, alleges that
[t]heres been a long series of boardroom failures that have harmed the reputation of the
company and repeatedly destroyed shareholder value over an extended period of time, with
numerous specific examples of mismanagement including, inter alia, the Autonomy merger. See
Copeland II, Dkt. 1 at 4:1820. By stipulation, Copeland II is stayed pending resolution of the
Copeland I appeal.
F. 2014 and beyond: HPs efforts to limit potential future discovery.
It has been almost three years since the acquisition was completed, over two years since a
supposed whistleblower claimed that HP was a victim of Autonomy accounting improprieties,
and more than 20 months since HPs announcement of its write-down and the filing of lawsuits
against it. In all that time, HP has not sued anyone from Autonomy. This uncharacteristic
restraint is also part of HPs plan to avoid discovery. HP has now admitted that it intends to sue

22
In its opposition, HP suggested a failure of diligence on the part of Steinbergs counsels for
not objecting to the February consolidation order in this case back at the time it was entered. This
is another example of HPs view that parties with issues should intervene. Dkt. 147, 6 n.3.
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Dr. Lynch and Mr. Hussain in the United Kingdom, where discovery is limited and where
English civil procedure denies broad discovery. HP Opp. at 1:1415 and 7:47. This
tactical forum choice further makes plain HPs desire to hide what is going on, and to protect
insiders from discovery, so that HP can maintain through its tireless publicity machine its
narrative that it is immune from claims of mismanagement, and that all fault lays with accounting
disputes that HP calls fraud. (This forum choice also makes plain the absurdity of paying $18
$48 million to California plaintiffs counsel, who have no ability to practice law in England.)
* * *
In summary, in the three years since the acquisition, and the soon-to-be two years since
HPs announcement of the write-down, HP has at every turn beat back every effort at inquiry into
its mismanagement surrounding the Autonomy acquisition. Despite many efforts by plaintiffs
counsel in numerous actions, HP has successfully limited its document production concerning the
Autonomy acquisition to just 200 documents produced under seal in Delaware. HP has otherwise
remained immune from any discovery or inquiry about its own mismanagement of the acquisition
and integration. This collusive settlement is another chapter in HPs master plan.
IV. HPS PROFFERED CURE TO THE BAR ORDER DOES NOT DEPRIVE
HUSSAIN OF STANDING OR OF HIS NEED TO INTERVENE.
HP and Plaintiffs counsel brush aside Mr. Hussains concerns about the Complete Bar
Order, while at the same time, to avoid any doubt, HP concedes the need for revisions to
address Mr. Hussains concerns. Despite these proffered revisions, much doubt still exists.
First, HP asserts that the bar order applies only if Hussain advances claims where [his]
alleged injury is [his] alleged liability to the Company or Autonomy. In other words, it
applies only to the extent that Hussain seeks to hold others responsible for the losses that he
caused to HP. HP Opp. at 5:1215. That, of course, is exactly the problem. If, as it has said it
will, HP sues Mr. Hussain for alleged liability to the Company, and if Mr. Hussain in turn
seeks to hold othersfor example, HP insiders or advisorsresponsible for the losses that
[HP claims] he caused to HP, it would appear from HPs own words here that such claims would
be barred. Indeed, HPs proposed addition of Section 14.d.(6) to the Bar Order would seem to
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confirm this, by adding a specific reservation of claims by Legacy Autonomy Officials
against the Company or Autonomybut not against other releasees (e.g., HP insiders or
advisors). See Dkt. 166 (Wolinsky Declaration), Ex. 2 at 12; id., Ex. 4 at 8. In other words, HPs
proffered revisions appear designed to preclude Mr. Hussain from ever making any claims against
the very individuals who mismanaged HPs acquisition of Autonomy, undermined the
companies integration, and are to blame for HPs disastrous write-down.
23
Moreover, if
Mr. Hussain were sued by a third-party, the HP settlement would appear to preclude him from
bringing contribution or other claims against HPs insiders or advisors.
Second, HP and Plaintiffs claim that this settlement presents a routine, typical,
standard bar order, as established in Franklin v. Kaypro Corp., 884 F.2d 1222 (9th Cir. 1989).
As such, HP contends that Mr. Hussain will actually gain a very significant and very generous
benefit, because the bar order reduces Hussains liability with a judgment credit that
corresponds to the percentage of responsibility of the applicable releasee(s) for the loss to the
Company or Autonomy. HP Opp. at 2:27 and 5:1724 (citing In re HealthSouth Corp. Sec.
Litig., 572 F.3d 854 (11th Cir. 2009)). In HealthSouth, for example, the bar order was balanced
by crediting non-settling defendants in any future judgment with the greater of settling
defendants proportionate liability or the amount actually paid by the settling defendant. Id. at
85758 (emphasis added). In HealthSouth, the amount paid by the settling defendant,
HealthSouth, was $445 million. Id. at 861.
In this case, of course, the amount paid by the settling defendants is precisely zero. The
generous credit afforded here is, therefore, an undefined and unexplained percentage of
responsibility of the applicable Releasee(s). Although HP says nothing about how this
percentage would be determined, it repeatedly makes clear that it believes that number to be
zero. See, e.g., Dkt. 149-2 (Stipulation of Settlement), 2 (WHEREAS, the Board resolved

23
Plaintiffs opposition also tries to brush away Mr. Hussains concerns by asserting that
Mr. Hussains personal rights are not negatively impacted by the settlement [because it] carves
out direct claims. Pl. Opp. at 1:16. However, what Plaintiffs papers appear to give, HPs
proffered amendment to the Bar Order takes away. HP has amended the reservation for direct
claims to limit it to direct claims made in the capacity of the Securities Holder as a Securities
Holder. Dkt. 166, Ex. 2 at 10; id., Ex. 4 at 6.
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that there is no merit to the claims asserted against the named defendants.); id. at 3 ([T]he
Settling Individual Defendants expressly deny all assertions of wrongdoing or liability arising
out of the allegations in the Federal Action.); id. at 3031 (noting the Boards resolution that
each of the Settling Individual Defendants had at all times adequately fulfilled his or her duties
of care, loyalty, good faith, disclosures and oversight); id. at 30 (There is no merit to the
claims asserted against the Settling Individual Defendants [or] any other current or former HP
officers and directors). The alleged credit protection offered thus appears chimerical.
24

Finally, HP seeks refuge in cases that hold that non-settling defendants cannot challenge
the fairness or adequacy of a settlement (as shareholders can), but can only object to any portion
of a settlement agreement that strips a non-settling party of a legal claim or cause of action, such
as a cross claim-for contribution or indemnification. HP Opp., 4. HP ignores the dual impact of
this settlement on Mr. Hussain, as both a shareholder subject to potentially broad releases and as
a putative future defendant directly affected by the Bar Orderboth of which give him proper
standing to intervene at this time.
V. DISCOVERY IS APPROPRIATE
In his opposition, Plaintiff states reassuringly that there is no need for Hussain to
intervene to provide careful scrutiny [of the settlement] since HP shareholders already have the
right to review and comment on the Settlement at the Fairness Hearing. Pl. Opp., 2:13. HP
adds that Mr. Hussain is not entitled to discovery, because [a]ll he needs to see is the settlement
agreement, which he already has. HP Opp., 7:10.
We disagree. Subject to the courts discretion, an objecting shareholder may be
permitted to engage in limited discovery with respect to the process by which the settlement was
reached, the merits of the underlying claims, and the good faith and independence of the board in

24
A Bar Order with a judgment credit makes a lot more sense where settling defendants are
actually paying money in settlement. In that situation, a bar order will typically provide that if the
company later obtains a judgment against a non-settling defendant, for which a released settling
defendant is found to be jointly liable, the non-settling defendant will be entitled to a judgment
credit equal to the released defendants pro-rata share of the future judgment. In such situations,
there is a fairness hearing to ensure that the amount paid by the settling defendant is, under the
circumstances, a reasonable estimate of his or her liability. See, e.g., In re Brocade Commcns
Systems Inc. Derivative Litig., 05-cv-02233 CRB, Dkts. 434, 435, 452, 453, 476.
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approving the proposed settlement. Ferrara, Shareholder Derivative Litigation: Besieging the
Board, 14.04[2]. A settlement agreement that appears collusive on its face especially cries out
for a clash of the adversaries to generate the information that the judge needs to evaluate it.
25

Mr. Hussain has standing to be that challenger, because of his status as a putative future
defendant whose potential claims against others are potentially barred, and because his status as
an HP shareholder makes him potentially relatively more exposed to a claims bar.
Limited discovery is appropriate and necessary here to inform Mr. Hussains challenge.
The Court will ultimately have to determine whether or not this settlement is fundamentally
fair, adequate, and reasonable from the point of view of the corporation and its shareholders,
Ferrara, supra, at 14.05 (citing cases), which includes a determination that the settlement is not
collusive but was reached after arms length negotiation. Id.; see also Dkt. 149 (Plaintiffs Mot.
for Approval of Settlement), 11:9. The discovery sought here by Mr. Hussain will inform an
evaluation of whether the settlement here is fair, adequate, reasonable, and not collusive.
As noted in our moving papers, we seek the following discovery:
i) Disclosure of an unredacted copy of the amended complaint;
ii) Access to information concerning the extensive presentation on the
findings and recommendations, the electronic databases containing tens
of millions of documents, and the reports of interviews of nearly 100
individuals referenced in the Declaration of Judge Walker filed in
connection with the proposed settlement; and
iii) The report of the Independent Committees findings and
recommendations, which formed the basis for HPs Boards resolution
that there is no merit to the claims asserted against the named defendants
in the Federal Action or the State Actions (other than as to Legacy
Autonomy Official Michael Lynch).
In addition, we seek discovery of the 200 documents (2668 pages) that HP provided to
Delaware and California plaintiffs counsel, which were described as follows by the Delaware

25
Eubank v. Pella Corp., 753 F.3d 718, 720 (7th Cir. 2014) (quoted in Dkt. 160 (Hussain Mot. to
Intervene), 9 n.10). See also Ferrara, Shareholder Derivative Litigation, at 14.01, n. 4 (quoting
Levy v. General Electric Capital Corp, 2001 US Dist. LEXIS 13099, at *18 (S.D. N.Y. 2001)
(The task of the district courts [reviewing a settlement] is not easy, for plaintiffs and defendants
have submerged their adversary relationship in order, together, to propose the settlement which
they have negotiated, including the fee to be awarded to derivative counsel.)).
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Chancery Court:
The Plaintiff has already received documents relating to Autonomys
accounting practices, documents reviewed by HPs board detailing HPs desire to
unwind the Autonomy acquisition, documents reviewed by HPs board detailing
the impairment charge, documents related to HPs service divisions operating
margin, reports of findings of HPs internal investigations regarding Autonomys
historical results, and reports of findings of HPs internal investigations regarding
the write down. Those documents included minutes from all board meetings and
committee meetings at which the Autonomy acquisition was discussed, as well as
all presentations that were made to the board and its committees dealing with the
acquisition, including presentations made by the Companys financial advisors.
Those documents are sufficient for the Plaintiff to investigate wrongdoing on the
part of HPs officers and directors.
Cook v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 2014 WL 311111, *34 (Del. Ch. Jan 30, 2014).
VI. CONCLUSION
After incompetently mismanaging Autonomy for over a year, on November 20, 2012,
HP announced to the market a number of serious accusations of impropriety. Key aspects of
these accusations were untrue, and HP knew it. Since that day HP has been actively engaged in a
cover up of its mismanagement and the events leading up to the announcement. And now HP
seeks through this corrupt settlement to bury the facts, and cut off all further inquiry or claims,
including claims Mr. Hussain may assert in his defense once HP sues him.
For these reasons, and for the reasons stated in our moving papers, Mr. Hussains motion
should be granted, allowing him to intervene, obtain limited discovery, and challenge this
settlement.

Dated: August 11, 2014
By:
KEKER & VAN NEST LLP
/s/ John W. Keker
JOHN W. KEKER
JAN NIELSEN LITTLE
BROOK DOOLEY
NICHOLAS D. MARAIS
Attorneys for Proposed Intervenor
SUSHOVAN HUSSAIN

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